Ecological Theory Flashcards
Behavioural Adaptation
When an animal learns a new way to do something such as finding food, mates, den, or escaping from predators.
It has no genetic variability that is passed onto future offspring
Genetic variability
Can be inherited by future offspring
Natural Selection
When the environment puts pressures on individuals. It favours behavioural adaptations and genetics that improve an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce in that environment. Only genetic variability can be passed to future generations though.
Evolution
A genetic adaptation is passed to the next generation when it improves the first generation’s ability to survive and reproduce. Only occurs if there is an inheritance of genes.
What is a practical definition of “natural”?
Native
Natural ecosystems consist of species that have co-evolved mechanisms to enable ecological systems to be self-regulating
What is a self-regulating ecological system?
A self-sustaining ecological process
Involves an ecological feedback loop
Populations are self-replacing
And it exhibits ecological resilience
What is an ecological community?
The plants, animals and ecological processes in an area
What are domains of attraction?
Alternative stable states of possible ecological communities
What is stability of a domain of attraction?
How little it changes when stress is put on it
What are the four views of nature?
Nature flat
Nature balanced
Nature anarchic
Nature resilient
Describe the view of nature as flat
That a system will only be stable if the forces on it are equal
Describe the view of nature as balanced
That if nature is disturbed, it will return to an equilibrium
Desribe the view of nature as anarchic
That nature is fundamentally unstable
Describe the view of nature as resilient
That nature has multiple stable states, and that if it is pushed, we will see abrupt and transforming change
What are the four categories of ecosystem services?
Supporting
Provisioning
Cultural
Regulating
What are four examples of “supporting” ecosystem services?
Soil formation
Photosynthesis
Biodiversity
Structural complexity
What are six examples of “regulating” ecosystem services?
Pollination Cool temperatures Control flooding Purifying water Storing cabon Cleanin air
What are four examples of “provisioning” ecosystem services?
Food
Clean water
Fish
Wood
What are four examples of “cultural” ecosystem services?
Stewardship
Aesthetic
Recreation
Education
What is an ecosystem service?
What nature provides to humans
What is the difference between resilience in engineering and in ecology?
Engineering: single stable state, and resilience is the time that it takes for it to return to an equilibrium
Ecology: there are multiple stable states, and resilience is its ability to absorb disturbance, reorganize and retain structure and function
What is ecological resilience?
The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain function, structure, identity and feedbacks
What is a major factor that increases the resiliency of an ecosystem?
High biodiversity
What is the management associated with nature flat view of nature?
that management can control the system if the correct level of use is discovered
What is the management associated with nature balanced view of nature?
managers will manage for maximum sustainable yield
What is the management associated with nature anarchic view of nature?
managers will focus on maintaining the status quo
What is the management associated with nature resilient view of nature?
managers will understand unpredictable dynamics, and have adaptive management approaches
What does adaptive management involve?
Learning by doing
Uses management as an experiment
Has experimental design with quantifiable objectives
Is not “trial and error”
What is adaptive management?
A systematic approach for improving management by learning from management outcomes.
It parallels concepts for experimental design i.e. hypothesis testing
What does adaptive management acknowledge?
That there is uncertainty about how ecological systems function
That there is uncertainty about how ecosystems will respond to management actions
What are some problems that make people reluctant to admit uncertainty?
Perception that asserting certainty is more convincing
Think that acknowledging uncertainty will increase the likelihood that recommendations will be ignored
Acknowledgement of uncertain outcomes can be seen as invitation for confrontation resulting in inability to reach timely agreements
What are the six steps in the cycle of adaptive management?
Assess the problem Design a management strategy Implement the strategy Monitor the results of the implementation Evaluate the results Adjust the strategy
And repeat
What are DEMANDS
a framework for how to be effective in improving societal decisions about sustainable use Data from Science Ecological theory Models Adaptive maNagement Decision making frameworks Social context
